Lack of events and Milsims?

stevie4568

I was just wondering why there is a big lack of Airsoft events in Ireland. The place I see them the most often is in Bellurgan, but that is too far away for me to travel to, mainly because of my lack of car.

With Dublin having the most sites in the area, I'd have thought there would be one maybe once or twice a month. They require some planning, but they are worth it in the end.

The ones I have played in are always totally different to the regular pick up days. They are what got me into using mid caps, and they encourage teamwork and communication even more so than airsoft usually does.

Milsims and one day events help to bring the entire airsoft community together, and I would love to see more happen around the country.

Hande hoche!

Hopefully there will be another Rionegro game this year.

stevie4568

I was just asking the Bellurgan guys about that, I would definitely travel up there for Rionegro! I missed it last year so I'll have to catch it this time around.

sliabh

Funny you should mention Rionegro because, ############ [REDACTED] ############.

Although the OPs question was about seeing events elsewhere in the country. From my trawling across various websites and Facebook pages there are some other big events. But the Milsim scene has gone a bit quiet. Two reasons I would think are the closure of some sites that were big supporters of MilSim (like HRTA) and because some people have moved on (Evilrobotshane was a big driver before he moved to the UK last year).

There are sites interested in offering more MilSim but organisers I think we need more good people planning and organising events. And for big events, what will be needed are big sites. Those are harder to find.

stevie4568

sliabh wrote: »

Funny you should mention Rionegro because, ############ [REDACTED] ############.

Oh why do you tease Sliabh?
Also I had NO IDEA HRTA had closed down! when did this happen? :O
Bellurgan is probably the biggest site in ireland, but there are other very large ones in the dublin are, such as Red Barn and Fingal, and I would have thought Red Barn would have been interested in Milsim. It seems like it would fit in with their MO.

Lemming

stevie4568 wrote: »

I was just wondering why there is a big lack of Airsoft events in Ireland. The place I see them the most often is in Bellurgan, but that is too far away for me to travel to, mainly because of my lack of car.

Beg, borrow, steal, or convince your way into someone else's car, figure out public transport as close as possible and organise for someone else attending with wheels to see if they'd mind picking you up, or contact organisers for same.

Most of the events around the UK (including ones attended by Irish players) involve travel. The best sites or facilities typically tend (there are exceptions in relative terms) to be ones that are not in well populated areas. That's just the way it goes ... don't let the lack of your own car defeat you.

stevie4568

Lemming are there many events in the UK? All I see are the occasional posts about sennybridge or some such:P

JFAirsofter

you know what i'd love to see happen more, is 24hr events, none stop gameplay i know theres one commin up soon i think in bellurgan but can't make that one and don't know of anymore commin up this year

BigGunner

There is a 24hr non stop milsim in cork during the summer (july i think). With regards travelling to events, ask for a lift, someone will help out.

jayod30

BigGunner wrote: »

There is a 24hr non stop milsim in cork during the summer (july i think). With regards travelling to events, ask for a lift, someone will help out.

Any more info on it would be great

Puding

jayod30 wrote: »

Any more info on it would be great

https://www.facebook.com/events/231629680193316/
not much information, just a comment that 'this is milsim' which does not tell you much, would like to see some more information myself

there are a lot of event in the uk the reason you do not hear much about them or about people traveling to them is that the people that go just general get on with it, have a look at

http://www.stirlingairsoft.com/
http://www.tier1airsoft.com/
http://www.firstandonlyevents.co.uk/
http://www.ta-events.co.uk/
http://www.brittacairsoft.com/site1/
http://www.neptunetactical.co.uk/#/home/4559698077
http://apocalypse249.com/home/

Lemming

Puding wrote: »

https://www.facebook.com/events/231629680193316/
not much information, just a comment that 'this is milsim' which does not tell you much, would like to see some more information myself

there are a lot of event in the uk the reason you do not hear much about them or about people traveling to them is that the people that go just general get on with it, have a look at

http://www.stirlingairsoft.com/
http://www.tier1airsoft.com/
http://www.firstandonlyevents.co.uk/
http://www.ta-events.co.uk/
http://www.brittacairsoft.com/site1/
http://www.neptunetactical.co.uk/#/home/4559698077
http://apocalypse249.com/home/

To add to that;

Arnies Airsoft Events subforum (needs registration/login to view)
UK Airsoft Zone (UKAZ) Sites sub forum
Gunman Airsoft
Tour of Duty 2012 (Vietnam airsoft) - also includes dates (August) for the highly regarded "In Country" series

etc.

I could go on all day listing stuff. Some of it you need to dig for though, but such is life.

Zomg Okay

Puding wrote: »

not much information, just a comment that 'this is milsim' which does not tell you much, would like to see some more information myself

If it's anything like the 24h game played at RAB last year, there'll be plenty fun to go around. I imagine Martin will have more details up later in the year when he has a better idea of what kind of numbers he's expecting.

sliabh

stevie4568 wrote: »

Oh why do you tease Sliabh?

Builds anticipation...

Puding

Zomg Okay wrote: »

If it's anything like the 24h game played at RAB last year, there'll be plenty fun to go around. I imagine Martin will have more details up later in the year when he has a better idea of what kind of numbers he's expecting.

well that is the problem with a lot of events in Ireland, people want to know details of the even before they commit to anything, just slapping a milsim tag onto something does not really tell you enough

sliabh

Puding wrote: »

just slapping a milsim tag onto something does not really tell you enough

Careful now or you will re-ignite the "what is milsim" debate!

stevie4568

Do you think there would be a opening in the market for an airsoft events company? I know that Lion Claws in America use locations that aren't normally airsoft sites,such as ex military bases and large plots of land. Maybe some of the ghost housing estates could be put to use!

Shiminay

I'm involved in a (mostly) monthly Airsoft LARP called Midway that EvilRobotShane and a few others from here have played at regularly - details here. It's kinda like MilSim with more emphasis on story and role play (but plenty of combat too). There's a nice mix of shooters (airsoft and archers), melee (rubber swords) and non-combat players to make it quite interesting.

We had to get our own insurance this year which cost quite a bit, but that's probably the biggest barrier to any events company setting up as it's difficult to guarantee numbers for such a niche hobby.

stevie4568

Larping always interested me, I think it gets a bad rap form stuff like this

but I'm sure it's good craic. Not quite the same as milsim but I can see where the milsim elements would be incorperated:P

sliabh

Here is a question for the original poster. Without going into labels (like MilSim, Battle Sim etc), what is it you are looking for that you are looking for that you are not getting from your current weekend skirmish?

Shiminay

heheh, yea, it can be a lot more difficult to suspend disbelief in fantasy stuff - especially when you're using "magic", but tbh (and I'm sure there are some Airsofters who may not agree), MilSim is LARPing - just not always with the story

Midway we don't really have the "magic" problem as the combat's fairly intuitive - we do use "calls" for the melee stuff though as there are some rules associated with it because you might want to knock someone out or to run them through with a blade. There are ammo restrictions, supplies, armour, rules for first aid and skill progression etc.

Feel free to PM if you want to know more - we play on a Friday evening towards the end of the month and have a bus from Dublin city out to Red Barn where we play

stevie4568

I'm a fan of games with storyline, and with objectives other than plant that bomb, or take that flag. I like having motivation to complete the objective.

I also like working in teams with radio communications. During the pick-up days I've been to, people rarely if ever utilise radios. I like using radios, coordinating squads, or being coordinated to hit the enemy for maximum effectiveness.

I don't necessarily even want milsim games, I would just like day long games with running objectives and teamwork.

Puding

stevie4568 wrote: »

Larping always interested me, I think it gets a bad rap form stuff like this

funny actually you could say almost the same thing about airsoft tbh, just replace video with one of the 1000s on youtube showing stupidity in airsoft

stevie4568

Puding wrote: »

funny actually you could say almost the same thing about airsoft tbh, just replace video with one of the 1000s on youtube showing stupidity in airsoft

Thats true but it's easier to suspend disbelief in airsoft, as it's more believable to
hold the gun in your hands as opposed to throwing tennis balls and pretending it's lightning:P

Puding

stevie4568 wrote: »

Thats true but it's easier to suspend disbelief in airsoft, as it's more believable to
hold the gun in your hands as opposed to throwing tennis balls and pretending it's lightning:P

a lot of people outside of the hobby would disagree but that is a discussion for another thread

Inari

Unfortunately airsoft in Ireland is full of people who are not willing to make the effort. Everyone is interested in trying more MilSim orientated games...when and where it suits them. The amount of times I see and hear people ask about games, and then answer it with "Ah yeah, but that's ages away" - I can understand being a fellow moucher (no car), but unless effort is made, why will site owners bother to organise more niche games? A niche within a niche is not very many people at all.

The way I personally see it is that for MilSim in Ireland to take off properly people need to put their money where their mouth is, and just high tail it when and where they're on. Yes there are other commitments in life, but the more successful events there are, the more likely it is for people to try and run them. And if in the event that one does not meet the standards, then people will talk about it and ensure that people know there are others, and that other events are successful.

stevie4568

Puding wrote: »

a lot of people outside of the hobby would disagree but that is a discussion for another thread

Thats just my perspective form inside airsoft, but yes you're absolutely right some people would equate them very easily

stevie4568

Inari wrote: »

The way I personally see it is that for MilSim in Ireland to take off properly people need to put their money where their mouth is, and just high tail it when and where they're on. Yes there are other commitments in life, but the more successful events there are, the more likely it is for people to try and run them. And if in the event that one does not meet the standards, then people will talk about it and ensure that people know there are others, and that other events are successful.

I agree, an effort must be made, but efforts are made! I personally got up at 5 am to get into town to catch a bus to Dundalk to catch a bus to Bellurgan to play in the Somali conflict 2 last July, and there were many other people from Dublin who made the trek up to Louth for the game. Imagine the turn out we could have down in Dublin, where there are many airsofters. The only thing is there isn't anyone experimenting and trying to put on the events here.

I find there's a certain appeal to bellurgan as they have done so many, and they're getting very good at running them, and they run every type of event. From day long story-driven games to hardcore 48 hour milsims, they do em all, and fairly regularly. They are at the forefront of events in Ireland as far as I can see and I think a site that puts in the same level of work down here could be tremendously successful .

sliabh

One of the reason's why Bellurgan is good for these games is the gang there want to put on the sort of games they want to play.

The other one is that the place is big, particularly when they open the whole site. If you are looking for a day long, mission driven event with large numbers, and you don't want to be tripping over other players all day long then a larger site is key. I know some of the Dublin sites are pretty popular, but I have heard it's like the Battle of the Somme on busy days. That isn't helpful for slower paced mission orientated games.

Puding

One of the reason's why Bellurgan is good for these games is the gang there want to put on the sort of games they want to play.

i think this is a key point and has come up a number of times discussing this topic with friends

the best 'milsim' events are put on by people who are running games they want to play in and it then attracts people with similar mind sets, this is important for it to work tbh

if you;re just going out to run milsim and attract as many people as possible then it will not work as it just becomes nonediscript and lovely generic with to many concessions bing made

more and more events will come as the community in ireland develops and sites delevop, at the moment for example a lot of sites are just to small for example let alone anything else

MerryDespot

Lemming wrote: »

Most of the events around the UK (including ones attended by Irish players) involve travel. The best sites or facilities typically tend (there are exceptions in relative terms) to be ones that are not in well populated areas. That's just the way it goes ... don't let the lack of your own car defeat you.

Hell ... for quite a few of us over here the main milsim games played are in the UK or even Sweden - getting some transport to Bellurgan is significantly less of a burden than the ferry or flight required to play abroad.

As someone who has played in Bellurgan (at the first Rionegro game) I have to say that the effort is worth it. For me having this facility a mere 90 minutes from Dublin makes it that much easier to get a game in without having to go to the hassle of going abroad.

stevie4568

MerryDespot wrote: »

Hell ... for quite a few of us over here the main milsim games played are in the UK or even Sweden - getting some transport to Bellurgan is significantly less of a burden than the ferry or flight required to play abroad.

As someone who has played in Bellurgan (at the first Rionegro game) I have to say that the effort is worth it. For me having this facility a mere 90 minutes from Dublin makes it that much easier to get a game in without having to go to the hassle of going abroad.

Well that's where our financial statuses come into play. I, being in secondary with no job, would struggle to pay the admission fee, much less for a ticket to the UK. I would absolutely love to go to one of those sites abroad, but it's not viable for me at the moment.

In the grander scheme, getting to Bellurgan pales in comparison to getting to the UK, but it's still an ordeal for me:P

Lemming

stevie4568 wrote: »

Well that's where our financial statuses come into play. I, being in secondary with no job, would struggle to pay the admission fee, much less for a ticket to the UK. I would absolutely love to go to one of those sites abroad, but it's not viable for me at the moment.

In the grander scheme, getting to Bellurgan pales in comparison to getting to the UK, but it's still an ordeal for me:P

Seriously; my first event - and it was abroad I might add - was to Ground Zero's weekender event in 2007. I knew nobody going; did all the leg-work for figuring out how to get over there, how to get RIFs on a plane since this was all new territory given how new airsoft was back then in Ireland (south of the border I should add). Sorted all that. Then hopped on a plane to Southampton airport in the south of England, which was still a good 20 km away from where I needed to be. The organisers very kindly agreed to pick me up en-route on the way down. I was very kindly given a lift back up to the airport via the ASI minibus.

Then the following year I hopped on a plane to Manchester - a little wiser this time around - and met up with one of the ASI lads who had flown in from Belfast and then the two of us walked through the city centre with bergens and rifle bags to get on a public bus, followed by more walking to get to Bassetts pole & the most awesome Fireball Squadron airsoft site.

I'll not delve into the logistical planning that went into both trips to Sweden for Berget 6 & 7.

Getting to Bellurgan park from Dublin is nothing by comparison. Really, it isn't. The point I'm making is that if you want to get there enough, you'll figure out how to do it. The only person who will defeat you is yourself on that score.

thermo

stevie4568 wrote: »

In the grander scheme, getting to Bellurgan pales in comparison to getting to the UK, but it's still an ordeal for me:P

when the next event is announced there will more than likely be a thread here in the events section, where you will have a chance to arrange a lift with people who are travelling alone.
i generally offer lifts to people if i have space!

sliabh

thermo wrote: »

when the next event is announced

Shhhhhhhhhhh!

Not yet...

thermo

sliabh wrote: »

Shhhhhhhhhhh!

Not yet...

i said nothing.............................

stevie4568

thermo wrote: »

i said nothing.............................

Seriously guys!! Hey Thermo, I couldn't get a lift to the event that may or may not be occurring in Bellurgan which may or may not be the sequel to a highly successful event that occurred last year...

thermo

stevie4568 wrote: »

Seriously guys!! Hey Thermo, I couldn't get a lift to the event that may or may not be occurring in Bellurgan which may or may not be the sequel to a highly successful event that occurred last year...

where you based?

stevie4568

thermo wrote: »

where you based?

Lucan:)

thermo

you should have no bothers arranging a lift from that neck of the woods

sliabh

People organising lifts, for an event not even organised, and wouldn't happen for months (if such an event were even to happen)...

We will take that as a mark of the success of last year's event.

CQB Airsoft

We do inhouse milsims (invite only) and don't advertise it to anyone that wasen't actually invited so we can avoid having any issues. I'm assuming a few other sites do something similar so why not contact your local site and ask them if A, they do it or B, they would be willing start doing it. Or you could just go to Bellurgan, tis an amazing site and it suits that type of gameplay.

No better way to get it going than having someone who really wants to do it pushing it along.

MerryDespot

sliabh wrote: »

We will take that as a mark of the success of last year's event my panama hat.

Fixed that for you there Seamus - it was indeed a legendary 'Man from Delmonte' hat.

sliabh

MerryDespot wrote: »

Fixed that for you there Seamus - it was indeed a legendary 'Man from Delmonte' hat.

This one?


I am not sure if/when it will make an appearance again. If I am turning out as am Embedded Marshal again this year I fancy doing it as either a something like a political commissar (enforcing idealogical discipline via a shotgun), or a military chaplain (dispensing the word of God and aiding sinners with an AK). Decisions, decisions...

Hande hoche!

A political commissar in the style of those found in the Red Army during WW2 would certainly be different. Might be a safer bet than a military Chaplain, as the penitent brigade would probably gun you down based on their track record

sliabh

Hande hoche! wrote: »

A political commissar in the style of those found in the Red Army during WW2 would certainly be different. Might be a safer bet than a military Chaplain, as the penitent brigade would probably gun you down based on their track record

They did seem to have a problem with men of the cloth all right...

TheDoc

sliabh wrote: »

This one?


I am not sure if/when it will make an appearance again. If I am turning out as am Embedded Marshal again this year I fancy doing it as either a something like a political commissar (enforcing idealogical discipline via a shotgun), or a military chaplain (dispensing the word of God and aiding sinners with an AK). Decisions, decisions...

You sir, where a pain in the backside protecting?!?!?

sliabh

TheDoc wrote: »

You sir, where a pain in the backside protecting?!?!?

Had to make you guys earn your pay. Its not all giant pay cheques, strippers, and coke parties when you become a PMC.

sliabh

It begins...